Teagasc launches corporate strategy for 2025 to 2028

Teagasc's new strategy plans to introduce measures to attract highly skilled young people into farming, with a particular focus on increasing the participation of women and part-time farmers

(Left to right): At the launch of the Teagasc strategy are Professor Frank O’Mara, Teagasc director; Sinéad McPhillips, secretary general of the Department of Agriculture; Liam Herlihy, chair of the Teagasc Authority; Professor Maeve Henchion of Teagasc; and Paul Maher, head of international relations and corporate strategy.

The new Statement of Strategy 2025-2028 was recently launched by Teagasc.

The strategy is titled Innovating for Impact: Improving Competitiveness and Resilience in the Agri-food Sector aims to focus on competitiveness and resilience in the sector.

Teagasc has said the launch marks a re-orientation of priorities for the organisation, setting out a roadmap to strengthen productivity, environmental sustainability, attractiveness and innovation in the agri-food sector in the years ahead.

The strategy is said to be in line with the EU’s renewed focus on competitiveness and food security, and the Irish Government’s Action Plan on competitiveness and productivity. It hopes to strengthen both environmental sustainability saying the economic viability of Ireland’s family-based farming model remains essential.

Teagasc plans to introduce measures to attract highly skilled young people into farming, with a particular focus on increasing the participation of women and part-time farmers.

As the sector faces growing risks from market disruptions, geopolitical tensions, and economic shocks, the strategy places greater emphasis on innovation to increase value-added production and expand market opportunities.

The strategy builds on several recent Teagasc initiatives, including its advisory, education and climate strategies, as well as specific initiatives relating to water quality, strategic communications and international development. It includes more than 40 new initiatives that will shape the agri-food industry over the next three years. 

These initiatives will be reviewed during the lifetime of the strategy to ensure that Teagasc is achieving real impact. As a result, additional initiatives may be introduced over time, while others may be phased out.

Chair of the Teagasc Authority, Liam Herlihy, said: “We will continue to work with holders of over 130,000 farms and over 200 companies from across the agri-food system to address complex challenges but also to seize new opportunities. With its integrated model of research, education, and advisory services, Teagasc is uniquely positioned to drive innovation, sustainability, and resilience for farmers, industry, and society."

Mr Herlihy described the new strategy as ambitious, emphasising that 'Innovating for Impact’ will ensure that Teagasc continues to be relevant to its stakeholders. It is designed to position Teagasc to be "responsive, flexible and adaptive in a rapidly changing environment”. 

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He highlighted the strong collaborations between Teagasc and a broad range of partner agencies and other organisations, which align with Teagasc’s commitment to supporting the growth and transformation of the agri-food sector.

In particular, the close strategic alignment with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia, and Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) reflects a collective national ambition to foster innovation, drive sustainability, and enhance global competitiveness.

Teagasc director, Professor Frank O’Mara, said: “Teagasc will build on existing partnerships to ensure we remain thought leaders, accelerating innovation and delivering real benefits for our clients, stakeholders, and the wider community.”